In this article, you will not only find the most probable questions you will be asked in the Tj Maxx interview but will also learn how to answer them properly along with some sample answers to get you an idea of how it should look like. Here, let’s know some Tj Maxx Interview Questions.
But before moving further with the article, here is a quick overview of what Tj Maxx is?
Tj Maxx Overview
Tj Maxx is an American department store company founded by Bernard Cammarata in 1976. It is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts, United States.
The company is famous for its items that they sell at an off-price which are similar to other similar retail stores. The company has been successful in providing jobs to over 320,000 people in its 4500 stores operating in 9 countries.
Top 10 questions you could be asked in an interview with Tj Maxx
1. What times can you work at Tj Maxx company?
They are extremely interested to know your availability and this will form a key part of deciding whether or not to hire you. The method that covers all of the things that they want to hear is to mention four things while answering the question. The first one is to show them that you are flexible, the second is to mention your reliability, the next is to show off that you have a can-do attitude and the last thing is to show some sensible commitments. If you’re happy working on evenings, public holidays, weekends, mention that in the interview otherwise do not bring it up.
Answer: “I am available full-time on weekdays and part-time on weekends. However, I can be flexible and manage to work full time on weekends as well in case it is required. I am also up for working on public holidays.”
2. What can you tell me about the Tj Maxx company?
This is a key question that is most likely going to be asked. So, this is the question you have to prepare for. There is no point in going to a Tj Maxx interview without knowing the company and understanding how it works. To impress the hiring manager, you have to do preparation. You can start answering the question by stating obvious facts about the company that everyone knows. Then show off some research and understanding of Tj Maxx’s business model and how they are positioned competitively. Lastly, you want to dig deep and show off some knowledge that most people don’t have.
Answer: “It is an obvious fact that Tj Maxx is a department store company but it’s not like Macy’s or Nordstrom. Tj Maxx is a much more interesting business model. It is known as an off-price retailer. Tj Maxx secret sauce is in their buying, that is they buy large quantities of products at very good prices which they sell at heavy discounts. So the key to their success is that they have a very low price but also offer a very good value. Tj Maxx fundamentally is very well known for their high inventory turnover which means that stock comes in the door and then flies out the door much faster than any other retailer.”
3. How would you manage a complaint from an angry customer?
Now, to answer this question, you must mention these four points. First, you start by mentioning the word de-escalation which means calming down the customers and getting the situation under control. The next thing you are going to say is that you are going to listen to the customer. The next thing you are going to reassure them is that you are focused on the solution and while finding the solution you are going to follow Tj Maxx policy. And lastly, to sum up, your answer, you are going to mention, when dealing with an angry customer, you’ll turn negativity into positivity.
Answer: “First, I will try to de-escalate the situation by calming down the customer and getting the situation under control. Then I will attentively listen to the customer’s problem and will find a solution to it according to the company’s policy. I will try my best to ensure that the customer leaves the store satisfied and happy.”
4. What is your major strength?
Now this question can be a great opportunity to show off your strengths. So, fundamentally when you are answering the strength question, you want to pick up a strength that makes a difference to their business. Then you have to back this up by giving some evidence to make your answer strong. So if you’ve got previous work experience you could use examples of when you’ve used this strength. The next thing you need to do is to show that this strength will make you an asset to Tj Maxx.
Answer: “One significant strength I have is that I am very customer-focused, reliable, or proactive. I can evidence this strength by mentioning my previous job experience in retail. I have worked in retail for the past 2 years, so I am now pretty comfortable in interacting with the customers and handling their issues. This strength will contribute to Tj Maxx by providing excellent customer service.”
5. What is your major weakness?
Now, this question unfortunately might be an opportunity to mess up the whole interview and lose the job. This is where people mess up their interviews by picking up bad weaknesses and digging themselves into a hole. So, we are going to assure you the way to answer this question that will not get you into trouble. Firstly, don’t fake it. Then you are going to spend more time talking about how you’re going to fix it. Then the most important thing is to ensure that Tj Maxx won’t care about your weakness.
Answer: “The weakness I am aware of is public speaking. I am good at interacting with people but when it comes to speaking in front of hundreds of people, I get nervous. And to overcome this weakness I am constantly trying my best to use the opportunity whenever I can to talk to a group of people with confidence.”
6. Why do you want to work at Tj Maxx?
If you don’t prepare a really good answer to this question, it’s going to hurt your chances of getting a job there. First, you need to talk positively about the brand. Mention the things you love about Tj Maxx. Then talk about how the job matches your skills. You can talk about moving up in the company and the opportunities that you can get by joining Tj Maxx. Then mention your interest have if they link to Tj Maxx that is a good thing to discuss. And importantly you need to show some enthusiasm while talking about the company.
Answer: “The thing I love about the company is that they have been successful in not only providing the best off-price items but also excellent customer service. And my skills in interacting with people match with the role I have applied for. I am looking forward to working in the company for the long term since it provides really good opportunities to move up the ladder.”
7. Describe a time when you worked as a team.
Answer this question properly since it will let the hiring manager know how good you are at interacting with the people around you and your behavior towards your co-workers. You need to show them that you are good at working as a team. Talk briefly about your experience as a team. Mention the experiences you had from school or any community center where you worked as a team.
Example Answer: “In my school and college, I had worked so many times as a team for presentations. And not just participate but one time played the role of the leader and guided a group of six students. I get along with others very easily. I was also a football team player for my whole school year. This has taught me to work with a group of people and that is why today I am very well aware of how to be a good team member.”
8. Tell me a time when you had to work for a long period of time.
You can talk about any experience you had whether at work or studies where you were required to work for long hours. Tell them how you cope up with that and also what was the outcome of it.
Example Answer: “Last year I was preparing for the SAT exams and was doing a content writing internship simultaneously. I was working full time and my work schedule was so tight. I remember studying daily for five hours in the morning and afterward doing my job till 11 at night for which I had to write an article of about 3000 words daily. This was my schedule for a whole month. I think the thing that kept me motivated was the fact that I believed in myself and also the satisfaction I got at the end of the day after completing my work and studies.”
9. Describe a time when you deal with a stressful situation.
Okay, so everyone has had a time in their life which was so tough to go through. Now, this doesn’t have to be related to your work life only. You can talk about any moment from your life which you think you deal with and are proud of. You have to mention how you got out of the situation and what you learned from the same.
Example Answer: “Last summer my dad lost his job which he loved to death because he had heart failure. The company said that he is not able to continue to work. And once my dad recovered completely, we told him about his job. He was trying his best to recover quickly and get back to normal life and start his job. But when he came to find out about it, he was shocked. We tried our best to keep him motivated all the time. Because of our financial problems, I had to work extra hours regardless of my college. But now things are so much better and he is doing well.”
10. Have you worked in a retail store before?
Here you have to mention your previous retail experience only if you have any. Never lie about the work experience you don’t possess. They will eventually find out. So, in case you don’t have any, try to back up by mentioning that you have volunteered some work in high school or anything related to your job. And if you have the retailer background mention in detail the things you like about working there along with the things you learned from working there.
Answer: “I have worked in a retailer for the past 2 years. The thing I love about working at a retailer is you get to interact with all kinds of people on a daily basis. It allows you to develop your interpersonal skills. During my time there, my communication skills, confidence, and patience from dealing with tough customers have been improved to a huge level.”
Questions to ask at the end of an interview
1. Can you please take me through the next step of the hiring process?
2. Could you tell me about the team you have here at Tj Maxx?
3. How would you describe an ideal Tj Maxx employee?
4. What should a new Tj Maxx hire do now to be well prepared for starting at the company?
So these were the 10 questions you will most likely be asked in the interview with the Tj Maxx company. Remember the answers mentioned above are just to give you an idea of what your answer must look like to pass an interview. Follow the points mentioned and prepare your answers accordingly. The answers should be your own, honest and real.
Let us know in the comments how your interview went and what questions you were asked!
